Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Facebook Challenges Google With Product Ads - Digits - WSJ

A new challenge to both Google and Amazon

"Facebook Tuesday launched a competitor to Google’s Shopping advertising service, allowing marketers to show users some or all of their product catalogs.

With Product Ads, Facebook is challenging one of Google’s most successful new businesses in recent years. Originally called product-listing ads, Google started offering the ads, which typically include pictures and prices, in 2012 to compete with Amazon.com.

Google displays the ads based on a user’s search for products. Facebook said in a blog post it would show product ads, also with pictures and prices, to Facebook users who visited the advertiser’s website or mobile app, or based on a user’s interests or location."